Former top cop pleads guilty in animal abuse case

Former Hamburg Police Chief Nick Millsap was originally charged with seven counts of animal abuse for his part in the deaths of dogs belonging to Elizabeth Brock in September 2005.

Patricia Rengifo

Former Hamburg Police Chief Nick Millsap entered into a plea agreement with the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s office June 20.

Millsap was charged with seven counts of animal abuse for his part in the deaths of dogs belonging to Elizabeth Brock in September 2005.

He entered a plea of “guilty” for one count of animal abuse in exchange for the additional counts being dropped.

Shelly Sedlack, assistant Pottawattamie County attorney and special prosecutor for Fremont County, said the agreement has been in the works since the fall, but, due to various logistical setbacks, was never filed.

“We had it pretty much worked out,” she said. “There were several issues” that prevented it from being finalized.

Sentencing is set for July 30. Animal abuse is an aggravated misdemeanor which carries a potential of two years in prison.

Sedlack, who is also handling the case of Hamburg Mayor Terry Holliman, who is also charged with seven counts of animal abuse, said his trial is still set to begin in July. She could not say if a similar plea agreement was offered to him.